176

Mortality from parathion poisoning in Finland, 1952-57.

content 5-15%), or as a liquid spray (parathion content

25-40%) (Kasvinsuojeluaineluettelo 1958).Our data are taken from the records of the Central

Statistical Office for Finland. The results are shown intables I-III.

In Finland between 1952 and 1957 286 people werekilled by pesticides (nearly all of them containingparathion). The incidence has increased year by year (seefigure and table i), but the use of parathion for suicidehas increased disproportionately.

In Denmark, also, mortality from parathion showssimilar features (Karlog et al. 1958) (table iv).

In Denmark in 1956 13 people killed themselves by takingparathion (we do not know the number of cases of accidental

TABLE III-ANNUAL TOTAL OF SUICIDES WITH PARATHION COMPARED

WITH SUICIDES WITH HYPNOTICS AND BY POISONING

TABLE IV-PARATHION POISONING IN DENMARK, 1953-56

poisoning for the same year), while the corresponding figure inFinland was 88 cases in the same period. In Finland in 1956the number of suicides with parathion were already morenumerous than suicides with hypnotics, then about 40% oftotal suicides by poisoning (table ill).Most of the accidental deaths were in small children

(table 11). The poison was usually taken by them eitherbecause in ignorance they tasted the substance carelesslyleft within reach, or because a parathion preparation wasgiven by mistake-e.g., as a cough mixture. In adultaccidents the reason in some cases was alcoholic intoxica-

tion, in others parathion had been taken for a cough. Atotal of 7 people were poisoned by parathion in the lastmentioned way during the period reviewed.We have also inquired into the occupation of patients

who died from parathion poisoning. Of these, 43 werefarmers, agricultural labourers, or members of theirfamilies, and 13 were skilled horticultural workers. Hence56 (i.e., 20%) of the fatal cases had had an opportunityof and need for acquiring parathion for their work. Theremaining 80% acquired the poison by other means butevidently found little difficulty in buying it.To obtain an idea of the significance of the number of

fatal cases due to parathion pesticides, we can mention by

way of example that in Finland pregnancy, parturition,and puerperal complications were the cause of death of94 persons in 1955, 99 in 1956, and 77 in 1957. Again,deaths from poliomyelitis in 1956, when mortality fromthis’ disease was at its highest, were 37.

SummaryIn Finland between 1952 and 1957 there were 286

deaths from parathion pesticides used in agriculture andhorticulture. In 1957 the number had risen to 105. 237of the total deaths were by suicide.Only 20% of these cases had an opportunity of pro-

curing the poison for their work. The sale of parathionpreparations should be more strictly controlled.

REFERENCES

de Ong, E. R. (1956) Chemistry and Uses of Pesticides. New York.Goldblatt, M. W. (1950) Pharm.J. 164, 229.Karlog, O., Nimb, M., Poulsen, E. (1958) Ugeskr. Lœg. 120, 177.Kasvinsuojeluaineluettelo (1958) Kasvinsuojeluseura r.y., Helsinki 1958.Kaye, S. (1954) Handbook of Emergency Toxicology. Springfield, I11.Moeschlin, S. (1952) Klinik und Therapie der Vergiftungen. Stuttgart.Roivainen, S. (1958) Teknillisen Kemian Aikakauslehti, 13, 384.

Recommendations for Arsenic SprayingThe Government regard the application of arsenites to

any edible crop as undesirable on general grounds.1 If

potato haulms have to be destroyed and the use of someless toxic alternative is impracticable, every possible’pre-caution should be taken. " On present information theuse of alkali arsenites as a haulm-killer on potatoes should

present no hazard to consumers "; but the Ministry ofAgriculture’s recommendations are designed also to

protect " livestock, wild life, and others " from riskswhich have been causing concern .2-5 The Ministryadvises that employers should make sure that their

workers know of the precautions to be taken, and that allusers should follow the maker’s instructions carefully.Children and cattle should be prevented from enteringpotato fields, both during and after spraying, and warningnotices should be put up. Workers should avoid spillingthe spray or contaminating nearby fields. The circular

emphasises the danger of contaminating ponds and

streams, and recommends that any surplus spray shouldbe emptied into a pit dug to avoid its soaking away intowater-supplies.

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Infectious Diseases in England and Wales

1. Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food: circular FSH 6/58, revisedJuly, 1959.

2. Lancet, 1957, ii, 1047.3. Whitehead, T. P. ibid. p. 953.4. Parker, W. H. Agric. Rev., Lond. August, 1958.5. Lancet, 1959, i, 721.